organic - what do you buy, if anything?

[hana]

thought this was interesting in the paper the other day - double page spread on the whole environment, saving the world sort of thing, but it gave a list of foods that if you can't afford to switch everything, you might consider these ones
flour
potatoes
bread
apple
pears
grapes
strawbs
green beans
tomatoes
cukes

we've been getting a box from abel and cole for a few months now and I used to think bunch of nonsense, but in terms of taste, I would always buy organic carrots now, and broc and pears.
any thoughts?

They add dyes to some salmon to make it more pink (as explained on the advert I recently watched) so I guess that would make it not organic.

Organic farmed salmon can be lovely. It's stocked less densely than non-organic, and usually in an area where there's more tide/current so it gets more exercise, as well as the dye thing Luciemule mentioned.
I think the argument in favour of fish farming is that it allows us to eat more nice healthy fish while preserving wild fish stocks. Apparently they have been having big rows about it at the Soil Association, though.

Hula I am with you with the local over organic too. Which box scheme have you had trouble with? I have been using riverswale recently and they seem OK so far.

I only buy organic veg if it is to be eaten the same day (it does'nt always last), i only have time to shop once a week so for us to have veg evry day organic is'nt an option.

If it was cheeper i would also be more tempted to buy organic (i can't always afford to buy organic). I also try and buy local produce when i can (cheese, meat and milk)

bozza - Farm Around. have used them for a year and was pleased with their products. However since Christmas time they always leave the bags ont he front doorstep and not in the garden as requested - despite phoning about this several times. Last week they had no vegetable sack available for me (!!!) so came home to no veg for dinner. And I am currently finidn g that I get exactly the sme stuff evry week, and I keep getting sprouted beans (whcih I emailed them to say we don't want as no one likes them_. Grrr.

Might just go to the farm shop and choose stuff myself.

Kathyis6incheshigh - I think so

Hmm I see your point there! We've not had sprouted beans yet, and I'm not sure what I'd do with them. Our closest farm shop is OK and I have been buying meat and topping up with veg from there, but I don't think it is organic and I am pretty sure a lot of it isn't local (eg babycorn from Thailand ) which makes me think I am being conned and might as well be off down the road to Asda.

hana, don't carrots grow underground too??? (re your first post) -

We only buy organic milk as we are povo. Occasionally an item of fruit or veg if the normal ones are looking particularly limp in asda, and never meat as its expensive enough in this counrty without added cost of organic (although I'm sure its fab and healthy and all that)

Ah you see out farm shop is fab. The farmer is lovely. DD likes to come so she can go and see all the animals whilst I shop - the farmer was showing her the new calf last time They also sell homemade jams and pickles, and organic juices. DH thinks the meat from there is very good and even better than the Waitrose stuff! And so much cheaper too. I will check on the organic status next time I go.

There are other farm shops. I should investigate. There is no Waitrose anywhere around here. But the meat is definitely better than the supermarket stuff.

meat
potatoes
apples
milk
yoghurts
butter
carrots

and buy most veg from local farm shop. if i can get local and organic meat i will go for that if not then local and free range. would rather do this than buy organic nonlocal meat from ssupermarket.

All fruit and veg (even if frozen - that's only peas and sweetcorn though!)
Meat if I have to get in supermarket (usually buy from butchers)
Milk
Yoghurt
Some bread items but they don't last very long
Mostly, if there's an organic option we buy it.

All our fruit & veg (we get a box delivered)
Cereal
Sugar
Meat
Milk
Butter
Bread occasionally
Beans
Cheese
All our baby food jars & pots for 6mo ds & snacks for 2yo dd

As much as we can really, but not tea or coffee 'cos we tried it & it was boakworthy so we buy Fairtrade instead.

Dh was in the supermarket & saw a woman pick up organic cereal, look at it in disgust & chuck it back on the shelf muttering 'I'm not buying that, it's organic'
WTF?

yes, carrots oare underground ( are you having me on here !) so just wondered if potatoes were on list, why carrots weren't
but it was more about the pesticides are residues left from the article left, rather than the tatse

Almost always get organic:
carrots
tea
ground coffee
milk
Meat

(sometimes other things)
love green and black choc

sorry hana, thought you were saying no need to buy organic potatoes as they grow underground, but we should buy organic carrots!

Mainly meat - I'm not worried about my veg being abused!

most veg, some meat - all from local farm shop, most milk, tea/coffee, some yoghurt/cheese etc.

I have had box scheme but found it more economic to go to shop[ and choose what I want. Which farm shop do you use Hula?

green and blakc choc
mmm
but didnt' someoen say it waswn't fairtrade the toher day ehre?

I do like fairtrade choc

there was a thread called something like 'if you can do one thing to keep children safe' and it had a link to a site trying to stop children being trafficked as labour to pick cocoa beans for chocolate. It had a list of Traffick free choc brands, and only G&B Mayan Gold was listed

Almost everything we eat is organic - but we only eat meat about twice a week and have masses of (organic!) lentils and beans to keep costs down.

I won't buy organic non-seasonal produce though, and we do buy from our farm shop which runs as organically as possible but can't afford the certification.

carrots always, they have a far stronger and nastier pesticide on them than any other veg, or so ive heard...

I can't afford organic meat, but I'll go with most of the vegetables providing the price is reasonable. I always buy organic eggs, however, whatever the price.